Allegheny College Study Abroad Spring 2009

Studying abroad in China has the perk of you meeting people from all over the world, as well as a whole lot of Chinese people. There is such a diverse group of people coming to China to learn the language that most of the colleges teaching Chinese to foreigners has become an international community. One thing I will say about most foreigners in China is that many choose to stick within their own groups. The Koreans stay together, as does the Italians, and the Indonesians. I'm pretty sure there is an American/English speaking group somewhere on campus as well. I would say definitely say when going abroad, break out of your comfort zone. It's great having the comforts of being able to speak your own language, and have people who share the same culture, but what's the point of going abroad to stay within a facsimile of what you left? Since coming here I've met lots and lots of Chinese people, Australians, Germans, Korean, French, Dutch, Spanish, a few fellow Americans, and more.
The people here have a vastly different view point of the world around them. I remember one of the more important topics that were discussed in my political science classes over the pass years is China as a up and coming power that is growing by leaps and bounds. However, the Chinese people find this idea preposterous. Go abroad and talk to people, what you find may surprise you.

American young uns should get out of their country so they can actually see what the world thinks of our country. It'll give them a chance to see what it's like in said other countries. I honestly don't think it's as important to receive "a foreign education experience" as it is important to just be around intelligent people who aren't from your nation. Doing so you'll pretty quickly spot out/be told repetitively things that are comparatively much better in other countries than your own.

One good example here is the cost of college. Just until recently you could get a year of college for 1,500 pounds in England, *they're now outraged at the slight increase*. Meanwhile, I told the students about Allegheny's 40,000+. They couldn't believe it, almost cried for me, there were hugs, some may have sworn off america, though I convinced them it wasn't quite so bad as it sounds. Still we pay a massive deal more for our educations in America than they do here, and they end up much less in debt because of it. While in America if you don't know what to do after college you may just have to dive for whatever can clear the debt, in England students have more freedom to take their time *I've noticed this in several countries now actually, much less rat racey*. Alot of things are like that around here, often British folk will just point out those things that make America so fricken weird *they like to do that* or you can realize it yourself and surprise them with America horror stories *only two ovens per building....boo!*! I notice it's cheaper here, the dorms are at a higher standard (they think we live like barbarians in our dorms in america), and I see more opportunities for student entrepreneurs, and wonderfully they don't force a way overly expensive meal plan down your throat when you don't need it (and as someone who can easily eat better food than served at allegheny for 25 dollars a week, that's very much appreciated)! What I've mentioned is just about college but that in itself is a good reason to travel in your youth, pre college even, the fact is there are different benefits to being in different places world wide, limiting yourself to america is very disadvantageous to you. So young ones, if you want to go do something with your life, get out of America, or live in constant disadvantage.

Communication is a catalyst for any relationship. If two people find they cannot communicate with one another then a huge wall is formed. Throughout my life I have found few problems with communication and find myself at ease when chatting with just about everyone (probably why I love being a tour guide). Coming to the Marine lab provided me with the opportunity to meet plenty of new and unique people. There was no one particular style of communication, but rather an overall shift towards marine terminology. Elasmobranchs, crustaceans, charismatic megafauna, ceteaceans, molluscs, benthic, pelagic and littoral are commonly used words which allowed for a more rapid exchange of general information. Using these and various other marine terms took only a short time to adapt to because they were so frequently used. The second change in communication was the use of acronyms. There are so many that I could not possibly start listing them out here. Mostly there were acronyms for different fisheries policies and other governmental marine programs. The usage of these terms and acronyms shows the ideals and values of the people at the Marine lab. They or should I say we are focused on bettering our aquatic environments through knowledge both learned and shared. I love understanding the current struggles because I feel as though the more I know the more I can share with others … ultimately making knowledgeable life choices.

Photo is of Doggie :-) or scientifically...
Aplysia brasiliana
(sooty sea hare)
Opisthobranchs, Gastropoda, Mollusca, Protostomia

Before I begin, the reason this entry is so late is because in the midst of the swine flu epidemic I completely forgot about this blog while trying to get out of the country and for that I apologize. I regret to say that I am now back at home in New York because of the swine flu.
I will first begin by saying this was one of the most important experiences in my life. I will not say it was the best experience; there were definitely things that hated while here in Mexico, for example, the inefficiency and the in-organization, but the point of studying abroad in my opinion is to experience all the differences, bad and good and realize that you have what it takes to overcome them and grow as a person through them. You can learn a lot in the class room at Allegheny. The liberal arts education prepares you for a vast variety of situations in the real world. It gives you the tools you need to succeed after college. What the education can lack in certain situations is the ability to apply what you learned outside of the class room. I will admit that the school and the classes I was studying at in Mexico were nowhere near the level of Allegheny but my education did not come in the classroom this spring. My level of Spanish increased way beyond what I thought it would and it had nothing to do with my classes all being in Spanish. Its because I was put into a situation where I absolutely needed to speak the language in order to get by. For example, everyday I went out to get something done I would need to speak the language whether it was going shopping or asking for directions. By the end of the trip it was second nature for me and I am sad it is over. I definitely do think it is necessary to study outside of your college "bubble" not to have the best experience of your life, but to force yourself to live outside of your comfort zone. To make life harder for yourself and realize in the end you are more capable then you ever thought you could be.

As a student interested in Marine Biology I have faced many doubtful people. Most feel the marine sciences are all fun and games… you know going on “vacation” to work. Others feel that most students interested in the marine sciences only want to play with flipper and those people generally shoot down the students dreams. From attending the Marine lab I found only encouragement and similar life stories. I have been encouraged by the number of doors that have been opened for me just by making what some would call “connections” or as I prefer to say friends . I would want those who have dreams out of the ordinary… and well seeing as Allegheny’s motto is “Unusual Combinations” I would think that would be most of the student body…to never get disheartened. If anyone is passionate about something they should take any and every step towards that goal. Traveling allows you to meet wonderful people who have taken different routes to meet at the same place. For example this past semester I took a sea turtle conservation course in which we studied just about everything thing there is to know about sea turtles and the conservation efforts put into place to protect them. I was blessed enough to be able to go down to Trinidad for a week to work with the Nature Seekers, a group which works the conservation and tourist efforts down on Matura beach. While working down there measuring and tagging leatherbacks (huge sea turtles that nest on the beaches of Trinidad) I met some absolutely amazing people. (For more information visit the Duke Marine Lab website and search for the Trinidad blog). So my advice to my peers would be to step up to any challenges and make connections… you can do anything you want to do with a little gumption.

Photo is in Trinidad we had to take all kinds of measurements which included digging underneath the turtle and straddling them :-) ... below is the caption posted...
Erin, Kirsten and Amanda are taking morphological measurements of what they term "Big Mama's" (aka the largest turtles they can find) to help the National Marine Fisheries Service design Turtle Excluder Devices that will be large enough to release leatherbacks!

Living at a Marine Lab provides for much exposure to a variety of conservation groups/efforts. Most of the groups are run by a mixture of adults and young adults (youths). One of the most prominent groups on campus is the “Green Wave”. The green wave is responsible for a variety of functions at the lab. They started the environmental seminar series where they bring in speakers from different areas of the aquatic world from fishermen to NOAA workers. They are also in charge of many “green” efforts at the lab including solar panels for the dining hall, bike racks around the island, composting, garden, clean marina, and many more. Each year students come together to better the program and to expand its reaches. They are also working on stretching the program to work on the main campus with the other environmental groups to bring some aquatic conservation efforts inland. Overall there is a great understanding of environmentally safe ways of living on the island…it is both challenging and encouraging. For more information about the Green Wave go to…
http://www.nicholas.duke.edu/marinelab/experience/greenwave/?searchterm=green%20wave

I chose this photo because I feel it represents what we need to do in our own lives… slow down… and one of my favorite quotes from Trinidad and Earth Savers

"Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time"

As my European/Spanish adventure is drawing to a close I have begun to reflect on all I have learned, experienced, realized about myself and the world, and discovered who I want to be. My immersion in a foreign culture gave me the opportunity to see America in a new light, both positive and negative. It also gave me access to a continent where other cultures are easy to access with there being as many French and Italian students in Seville as Americans. I could only communicate with these new friends through Spanish making for an interesting cross cultural exchange. While the United States is a melting pot of cultures I feel that we don’t realize that at times. In Spain, all my cultural aspects, as in language, food, conversations, and gestures, came out into the open when compared to the European ones. I feel that the amount of self-growth and realization is reason alone that youth should go aboard. Learning a foreign language has also taught me much about the English grammatical system; language proficiency can only be obtained by study abroad a fact that I now stand be firmly. The youth of the United States are in my opinion very sheltered to what is occurring in the rest of the world and are happy in this ignorance. This needs to change but the only way to change minds is by experiencing thus the youth need to go abroad.

The one perspective that I would take away from this experience and share with others is that our government is not as pretty as they make it sound in school. I knew that our government was not as clean cut as high school civics books makes it out to be, but that is part of the reason that the US government intrigues me. One of the main problems with Congress is that every member is always thinking about re-election. Every decision that comes across their desk from what lobbyist to hear from, what bills to support, how to raise campaign money, etc. is view from how the Member will get re-elected. I know longer view an issue as a simple two sided problem and a basic compromise will fix it. Nothing in DC is that simple, but it is interesting to watch what side comes out on top.

I would recommend anyone to have different types of educational experience. You learn about your self first and fore most. I learned that I can survive and be independent no matter what surrounds I am placed in. I learned who I am and who I want to be by observing the choices I was making in my new environment. Traveling to another college also gave me a respect for how great Allegheny is compared to another college. My workload was no where near as hard as Allegheny’s workload, but I also felt that I did not get as much out of it as I could have if the book and paper work was taken more seriously. New places opened up a whole new side of thinking that is hard to explain, but I know that I look at the world differently than I did before I went on this adventure.

I haven't seen much of a new social program being started by young people here, but I have seen young people involved in the community and changes in the community. One example of where I have seen this around the city involves Bolonia. Bolonia is a new education law, changing the format of education in Spain. They are trying to change the education system to a system very similar to that of the United States. However, many students are opposed to this change, and have started protests in the city against the change. One day, a bunch of students stood and sat in the middle of the highway, blocking traffic into the center of the city to protest against the new Bolonia law. Another example of young people trying to make a change is their work for the deaf and mute. They work around the city, asking people for donations and signatures to help raise money for the deaf and mute, to give them more rehabilitation opportunities. During their work, they try to avoid speaking, to demonstrate the struggles of the deaf and mute, but instead show you the description of what the are doing, and try to communicate with you without speaking. I don't know of any programs that have been specifically started by young people here, but the young people definitely get involved in what happens in the community, as can be seen by the Bolonia protests and the petitions and donations for opportunities for the deaf and mute.

Washington DC is filled with volunteering opportunities for people of all ages. There are organizations set up to help youth find volunteering opportunities. Churches and schools also have many opportunities. Although I was not witness to any direct acts of DC youth volunteerism, however I was a participant. One of my seminar courses required me to volunteer once a week. I was assigned to a job placement and skills training organization called Jubilee Jobs. My experiences there were wonderful. The staff was dedicated to the mission of the organization and treated each client with dignity and respect. It was beautiful to see the changes and opportunities available to each participant in the program. Youth volunteerism and community participation are a large part of the DC culture. It was refreshing and motivating to be a part of this atmosphere as well.

With a campus as large as JCU's, there are bound to be numerous student groups working for different types of social change. One that is particularly obvious to the outside observer is the food co-op that provides fresh produce to university students. For a small fee, students get a weekly supply of local, fresh, in-season produce. Besides being cheaper than grocery store fruits and vegetables, consuming locally grown food cuts down on transportation costs and fuel emissions. It also supports local, small-scale farmers who are at risk of being outcompeted by large, convenient grocery stores.

I couldn't have been in a better location for studying youth citizenship in the UK than at a university. Much like Allegheny or really most any college or university in the US, Lancaster University encourages volunteer efforts and working in the community. Perhaps the largest contingent of volunteer/citizenship efforts is the Lancaster University Volunteering Unit (LUVU). According to its website, over 200 students participate in organizations such as Lancaster District and Homeless Action, Lancashire Wildlife Trust, and a mentoring program that is probably the equivilant to Big Brothers, Big Sisters in the US. There are also opportunities to be placed in primary and secondary classrooms for the benefit of both experience in teaching and for mentoring to children, a program which a hallmate of mine is involved in. Outside of LUVU, Amnesty International is also one of the socities on campus, which frequently advertises for various meetings and discussions.
However, I have more personally observed my fellow students efforts to impact the community in a larger sense. I've been attending Christian services in the campus religious center (as it is also the home of multiple other religious demoninations I will resist calling it a church), and I've been surprised about how interested they are in the problems in the larger world. The Methodist minister in particular is very vocal about the situation in Zimbabwe. He encourages prayer and awareness, passing out pins with the Zimbabwe flag. They also address social issues, such as buying free trade produce, reducing one's carbon footprint, remembering to vote, and tolerance for other faiths. While I have yet to see inititive to create an organization around these interests, that they are of interest in a student organization cannot be discounted. Students in the UK are aware of a world outside of their own community and the need to help others, perhaps the very essence of what it means to be a world citizen. While at the moment involvement is limited to prayer (as a Christian myself I can honestly say that prayer actually is a type of involvement), I believe that awareness of need in the greater community of the world will propel this group to more efforts in the future.

Though protests and rallies do not always bring about immediate change in society, taking the initiative to organize such events assures an individual that change is imminent.

There is no doubt that both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have helped develop the economies of third world countries by implementing developmental policies. These economic policies include neoliberal trade laws, structural adjustment programs and agricultural projects. Some of these policies have made it possible for developing countries to build strong economies and also to improve the living conditions of citizens in their nations. However, most of these policies have minimized the influence of local governments in these countries. Local governments have been denied the power to make decision concerning their countries development. This has made it very difficult for developing countries to industrialize.

Realizing the negative effects that international economic policies have on developing countries, a group of students from around the DC area and the nation, organized a protest against the World Bank. This took place in front of the World Bank office in Washington, DC. The main aim of this protest was to make the public aware of how Western policies exacerbate the poor living conditions of Third World Countries. This community organizing is bound to bring a change in society, importantly the international community. Judging from the media attention that this protest received, it will not be wrong to infer that the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund will re-evaluate their development projects to benefit both industrial and non-industrial nations.

China's students has a special place in history in regard to social change. They were in the middle of one of the darkest times in China's modern history, and their actions had lasting effects on the country. The youth and students were the backbone of the Cultural Revolution. During this time the youth students were given almost absolute freedom. Some abused this power and abused others, while others took advantage of this and saw the country. The Cultural Revolution's effect can still be seen in society today. One of the major movements of the revolution was anti-intellectualism. Professors, doctors, scholars, etc. were imprisoned and students stopped going to school. By the time the Cultural Revolution was over, there was a surplus of students with little to know higher education. Unsure of what to do with them, the government sent them to the countryside. Some of these youths eventually tested back into school, and received a college education, but most of the the people who are now in their 60s missed a higher education.

Students were a huge part of another movement too, the Tiananmen Square incident where so many were injured and killed. Students were there to protest, unfortunately the protest ended in the army being brought in. The Tiananmen Square is a complicated tragedy, but it showed the power of the students. The students sought to change the country, and became a major political force.
These days students are very much like the students in America, they go to school, play, and volunteer. Most college students are busy and preoccupied with finding employment. There are many more college graduates than there are open jobs. The majority of the graduating class this year will be unemployed, but some still find the time between their senior thesis, work, job searches, etc. in their attempt to make the lives of others better.

Just to be clear, students starting social change isn't really something you just see popping up left and right. In England as in America students are kind of in the mindset that this is the portion of their lives where you learn and enjoy yourself and really don't do much else. As in America it's kind of rare for any student to step out and do their own thing. I think the most I've seen in this direction has been with the service on campus that is supposed to help young entrepreneurs. In this case I've seen some who design shirts, some who have a stand selling clothing, and some who sell soup. These are the more permanent start there own movement people. But the movement here is more for their financial gain so it can't really count.

There are of course students who volunteer here, helping out in the local community, which is great, and I assume there are some students in that organization who help at least mix their projects with existing projects in the area, though I don't really know of them having started their own.

Honestly the closest thing I've seen of young people taking initiative for a social program have been the ones putting up signs which have lines like "damn the man" and talk about bringing down the capitalist infrastructure, I suppose that counts, and they set up meetings and protests, so their active. Really this is rather nice to see even if it's a not big movement. We are a bit less politically active in the states

There's a lot more out there, beyond the bubble we
live in in meadville or even in the united states. there are completely different ways of
life that we can never understand unless we experience them firsthand. it
is really important to gain this perspective to remain open minded. even
just the architecture and the landscapes can change your life, as well as
meeting people you never would have met otherwise. its important to travel
to see what else is out there, otherwise i think it's hard to know who
you really are. having seen some of the most historical and beautiful
sights in my travels, from the roman colisseum to works of art in the
louvre, i honestly feel sorry for people who do not get to see the same
things i have because of how much they have changed my life for the better
it is also important to be cultured, particularly when entering the work force or
applying to graduate programs, because it gives you an edge over other candidates.
even just in terms of education, it is good to get away from allegheny because we are sheltered. i, for one, went to allegheny considering it to be a big school. my graduating class in high school had 65 people in it. therefore, when i came here to lancaster, which is about 3 times the size of allegheny, i considered it to be huge and overwhelming. i think that type of adaptation is important preparation for the real world. i know that if at allegheny i was really sick and needed an extension on a paper, i could most likely get one. at lancaster, i find it hard to even get my professors to respond to my emails sometimes. therefore, it is important to travel and experience different ways of life in order to gain independence and individuality.

At the end of 2007 my host sister had the opportunity to vote in her first presidential election in Kenya. The results were withheld for a few days and in the end the current president went on to a victory - to the dismay of many. The end result was violence which has come to be expected with a country that has 42 ethnic tribes. Nepotism and favoritism plays a major role in Kenyan politics and slowly it is pulling the country apart. Americans take politics pretty serious but at the end of the day people will not starve or be killed because of who their president is. In Kenya this can be a real possibility.

Post election violence was a scary time in the country's history and now thanks to young people perhaps they can move on. My sister is very active on her college campus and she encourages other young people to attend teach ins and to learn from the violence of the last election. They encourage young people to speak what is on their mind and to address current topics. People shouldn't shy away from others just because of different ethnicities. Specifically, last month the students went to a photo exhibit sponsored by U.S. Aid titled "Kenya Burning." The exhibit included photos from the post election violence and there were also journalist present to speak on their work with the communities. All over, it was a good time for students to come together and address and learn from current dilemmas.

I did not experience youth participating in community service type programs like the question prompts me to answer. I saw the youth change our government through their daily work. Starting at 16 years old, high schools can be Congressional Pages on either the House or the Senate side of the Capitol. Pages run errands including delivering packages and ringing the bells that announce when votes are taking place. Their daily work keeps the House and Senate chambers running smoothly. College students intern for members of Congress. Basic duties include talking to constituents and answering the mail. This is a full time job and it is very important that the job is completed because the constituents are the voters and they feel that their concerns are the most important. The way an intern interacts with the voters can gain or lose votes in the next election. College graduates fill up most of the jobs in the Capitol. These graduates work as schedulers and researchers. Schedulers decide every moment of a Congressman or Senator’s day including who does and does not get to speak with them. Researchers conduct background research on current bills and finds information on topics the Member is interested in. They also brief the Congressman or Senator about what happening in committees, what questions to ask, and how to vote on legislation. Legislation is also written by these college graduates. The Member of Congress attaches their name to the bill, but most of the work that went into purposing the legislation was done by the researchers. The United States is shaped by college students every day, but citizens do not think of that because they do not know the make up of the Capitol. I was surprised to talk with so many Washington Semester alumni who began working on the Hill right after graduation. Their jobs cover the whole spectrum of production. These young adults make policies that affect the entire country not just the Washington community. I am amazed that people think the youth is unengaged about our government, but yet the youth is what making our government run.

I actually did not see much social initiative being taken by young people in my community in Mexico. This is not to say that social change wasn't happening its just that it didn't seem to be that important at the school I was studying at. The school which I was at, the Tec de Monterry, really seemed more concerned with making itself look like the best thing in Mexico rather than making an impact in the community. For starters, the people who went to the school were not representative of actual Mexico. Everyone was really rich with only having the interest of getting a degree so they could make a lot of money like their parents do. There were a lot of conferences solely for the purpose of displaying the accomplishments of the school and all that the school has accomplished throughout Mexico. In fact, I really believe that there is a bigger "Tec Bubble" in Queretaro, than there is at Allegheny. The only thing I saw that represented social initiative by young people in the school was something that I at first mistook for a homecoming king or queen competition. All of these groups of people had these glamorous posters of each group of people in ridiculous poses was definitely taken professionally. Each group was giving out refreshments and other things. When we went up to one booth to ask what was going on, they told us that this was competition in which each group had an idea to help the community. The campus at large would vote on the ideas and only the winning idea was allowed to go ahead with their idea. It didn't make sense that the groups put all this money into there posters and things to give out so that they could win the votes of there peers rather than going ahead with their idea themselves with the support of the school.

There is a lot of evidence of social change here at Lancaster. Many of the students, not only who live here but from abroad, work very hard at voulenteer work. There is an office, completely run by students, right here on campus that organizes many voulenteer programs- everything from feeding the homeless to reading to children.

Just recently there was an organized group that left to go care for people in shelters by working at soup kitchens and organizing a food drive. This doesn't happen just once a year or a few times throughout, it's a constant effort to help change. Wheather it is from something as simple as going out to collect trash, to helping another person have something good to eat and a warm place to sleep, the students here take it seriously. And they do what they can to pitch in to help.

It is really good to see so many people trying to hard to make things better, not for themselves, but for others. I never see that office empty and I am always hearing about some kind of voulenteer program starting up, just after another one has finished. But like I said, this isn't a single event that happens once a year around a holiday, this is something that the students do year round, every day.

I think that is something we could all try to do at our own schools. In our own lives. There is never just one time to help out people who need a hand, and there is never just one time to take a few hours out of your day to go down and read to children or put on a yellow jacket and pick up litter.

There are people who care, as you can see by the students here, and that isn't something special to just Lancaster. It's something to think about.

The Okupas is a youth movement of Europe in which they occupy, repair and live in abandoned buildings that at times are in poor shape. The buildings are open for community use and classes are also taught within by experienced professors at times on topics from poetry to computers; the classes are also free. The movement brings a beautification to regions of the city that at times are run down and beyond repair. The inside of these structures is open for hanging out with friends and fellow community members. The group wants to encourage openness and social change for the better of society as a whole and offers various seminars/speeches on the topic.

Never before have I seen the amount of involvement in terms of youth
social action as I have seen abroad, particularly on Lancaster's campus. I
have seem protests ranging from ten people to maybe a thousand people,
voicing their opinions from anything to the increased prices in our
college bars to the genocide in the Sudan. But a more concrete example of
youth citizenship in action would have to be LUVU- Lancaster University
Volunteer Unit. LUVU is an integral part of Lancaster's campus; not only
do I walk past the office everyday, but it is also a part of LUSU
(Lancaster University Student Union), which really runs the whole campus,
both socially and otherwise. While I personally have not joined LUVU
because I didn't think I'd have the time, the group itself has roughly 300
regular members, involved in both campus and community outreach.
Basically, it is like Make a Difference Day, only it happens a lot more
often. The reason I even know about LUVU is because it is such an integral
part of the campus--I know several people who are involved with the
organization, and they advertise well enough that everyone seems to know
what they're doing. While I do believe that Allegheny does more than its
share of volunteer work, I would have to say that it is much easier to
find "youth citizenship" in the UK. Kids here, in general, just seem more
aware of what's going on in the world, politically, socially, etc. And I
hope it rubs off on me.

I came home from DC in the beginning of May. For me, leaving that vibrant city and all of the new friends I had made was bittersweet. I was excited to see my family but saddened that I was leaving the people whom I had been so close with. Looking back, I am now only happy about my experiences. I was able to learn so much from these new friends - some from as close as Massachusetts while others will be as far away as Japan. However, I was not only able to learn much from these friends but to also showcase my own college and life experiences for them. Studying off campus in DC provided me with the opportunity to realize just how different life can be in California as compared to Pennsylvania or in Japan as compared to the USA. We all discussed our college experiences, and we all tried to make our colleges seem like the best options for anyone. Yet the best way I found to be a responsible and successful Allegheny ambassador was to just be myself. I chose Allegheny because of how comfortable and welcomed I had felt. I tried to pass this on to the people I met in DC. Just being friendly, welcoming, and joyful can have a big impact, and I am certain that my DC classmates appreciated it.

Upon entering our floor kitchen, I was happily introduced by one of my floor mates to her mother. "This is Robin, our American hallmate." I think, even if I had studied here for my entire education, I would still be introduced as Robin, the American student. And for that reason I am always an ambassador of sorts for my country by being myself. This has manifested itself in strange ways over the last few months. In my first month here, I was a bit of a celebrity in our hall. My opinion was asked about varied subjects such as where I most wanted to visit in Britian, what my opinion was about the outcome of the presidential race, and if I perferred American football or "real" football. While my fame has diminished, I'll never forget those first few weeks of questions and curiosity--and the rather alarming realization that they expected me to always know the answer. Strangely enough, something else similiar happened a few weeks ago. I asked for a student's help when I was turning in an essay. After chatting for a few minutes, I was bombarded with a series of questions from a young man who had clearly thought seriously about moving to America. What did I think the job market was like? What sort of jobs would be more open than others? Was it really true that people with British accents were more likely to be hired? (I'm being perfectly serious with that last question, he did ask.) Although I am neither an economics major nor an expert in every trend in the American job market, I did my best to answer him. Still, I was rather amused by the whole encounter. What I wanted to know was where and how to turn in the essay for a class. He, on the other hand, was interested in the culture and economics of my home country. I suppose it really put into perspective where I stood as a student studying abroad in Britain. My interest has been cultural, yet with a more practical viewpoint. How do I act and behave in the classroom? Should I say "chips" or "crisps"? While I learn practical ways of life from the British students around me, I in turn give a viewpoint of an American. While I have been unable to answer every question that they had, I believe I did my best to be open and honest about not only who I am but the country towards which they harbor such interest.

From the very first moment I stepped foot into England, there seems to be a sign following me around, proclaiming that I am American. Without even opening my mouth sometimes, people seem to know where I'm from, and thus the journey to being an Ambassador has begun.

No matter who it is that I’m talking to, the conversation always seems to turn to what life is like in America compared to here. It’s actually very interesting to have conversations with complete strangers as we talk about America, policies and politics. The conversations range from what life is like in the job market, what the difference is in the school systems, all the way to what are the best places to visit when planning a trip.

I never thought I’d hear from so many people who actually were planning a vacation to America. I mean, of course I know people do, but England and Europe are just so much more exciting… so full of history and wonder. It isn’t until you start giving advice about where to go and what to do that you realize just how much America has to offer itself. But of course, I live there, and just like New Yorkers who never go visit the statue of liberty, I take for granted what it is we have and feel no need to see it, because it is always there.

So it has been a very enlightening time when I’m talking with people who are unfamiliar with my home country about just what it is that makes it home.

There have even been a few students who are looking to study abroad and I can happily say that I’ve recommended Allegheny if they want to try life in Pennsylvania. It seems that students are fascinated with the way that we do out studies, it’s actually quite different than it is out here and it is something that seems to intimidate a few. Of course, aside from Allegheny there were some other names and states dropped, just some small tips on what schools might be best suited for students studying abroad in America.

I can’t even count the number of times people have told me they were planning trips to New York, Vegas, Florida or California and were asking my opinion on what to expect, what to bring, what to wear! And at the same time, I’m asking them what to expect when I visit Scotland or Ireland- what am I supposed to do in a pub, should I go to a hostel or a hotel?

Most of my Ambassador powers have been devoted to tips and tricks to maneuver around the states while on vacation. I mostly get caught up in politics and theories of where home is headed when I’m talking to the older crowd and strangers who happen to notice my accent (who knew Americans had an accent?).

But is has been a fun time that’s for sure. You don’t really realize how much of an opinion or voice you have on subjects back home when you’re surrounded by people who share the same ideas- when you get out you actually get to compare! It’s been a great experience.

Allegheny College is an institution that emphasizes on the importance of diversity and the embracing of different cultures and perspectives. This notion on the other hand is rather difficult to practice. However, by maintaining an open mind and accepting the fact that every individual is unique and different, one is able to appreciate the uniqueness in others.
Living with two other roommates, a French and an American student, in addition to being around students from all walks of life, not only daunted me but also gave me the chance learn how to compromise and live under certain conditions. I also got the opportunity to serve as a role model to those I surrounded myself with.

It was very frustrating a times, to be among a group of people who do not only criticize others because of their educational background or institutions, but also for simply being themselves. Although this practice was against what my home college preached and also my personal beliefs, I kept rather quiet for the first few days until someone approached me and complained bitterly about friend. This friend was complaining about our other friend’s behavior, blaming our friend’s actions on her country of origin. I therefore took this opportunity to educate this friend on the dangers of stereotyping, and how to prevent such judgments. I proceeded by telling this friend about the different ideas and perspectives others bring into ourselves. Most of the time, we miss out on the joy and laughter that other cultures bring mainly because we are to busy criticizing them.

Appreciating others and not judging them based on irrational reasons can be very difficult, however, by acknowledging how different ideas and perspectives shape your life and self image, being open to others and embracing diversity becomes rather simple and a part of one’s life.

I am unsure on whether I've been an American or Allegheny ambassador. Instead I've been more of an ambassador of oversea Chinese in general. There are many of my kind in America, and our knowledge and experiences vary. Some are almost completely Americanized, and no longer know the language, culture, or traditions. Some know most of the culture and traditions, enough of the language, and blend in with the rest of them quite well, it is only apparent that they aren't Chinese born and raised comes through when you start discussing politics, literature, or other smart people stuff. And most fit somewhere in between. One of the best tests to see how well you fit in is a walk through the touristsy markets like Silk Street. If they ignore you, Congratulations! you're one of them!
In some ways I have been more of an ambassador for Taiwan more so than America. All Chinese can instantly tell that my family is from down south. The vast majority can tell that my family is from Taiwan. America has already been demystified for them, by other Americans in China, or the vast amount of American media that mostly come from the internet. However, Taiwan still holds a certain aura of mystery for most. It is quite difficult for most Chinese to ever visit Taiwan. Travel between the two countries are mostly one way. Until recently, the only way for them to see Taiwan was to take a boat tour that circles the country, never entering Taiwan's waters. Although travel between the two countries are slightly more open now, extraordinarily few Chinese are making it to Taiwan.

I, like many others quickly realized that, no matter how nice you are or how well you present yourself in a foreign country, everyone knows before you even open your mouth that you're american. With our nationality comes all the baggage of two hundred some odd years of a less than stellar foreign policy and the lingering political hangover of the previous President. Imagine if we hadn't left during Obama's first term.

I did my best to get the my point across when I first arrived and everyone asked me or mentioned dolefully of the then-looming financial apocalypse. I think that more than most things, at least in terms of your interactions with your host culture, comes up as a very important facet of the role of "ambassador." With any luck, you know your own country better than they do and you can explain our most recent actions as a nation.

A secondary, but ever-present duty of any ambassador is to avoid being a stereotype at all costs. The stereotypes aren't good. Luckily, the average american in Costa Rica is old, slightly overweight and retired, so I had my work cut out for me. Apparently we also poor hygiene, although I really don't know where that one comes from exactly.

Regardless of the of the scale or the subject matter, being an american "ambassador" is a simple matter of being aware of yourself, your actions and the world around you. In my travels I did my best to make it come across that, although I grew up in the US, I am not my country nor am I "an american" in the simple sense. I was me, an individual beyond just my background and my home culture. Just as I learned about a few new layers of the Costa Rican culture, I tried to be an example of someone from the US beyond the imperialist, or the noisy, lost tourist or the ex-businessman living off his nest egg that dominated the perceptions of many.

My American Politics seminar was filled with juniors and seniors. I was the only sophomore in my class. We began the semester by reviewing the past campaign and talking with political consultants. In my three semesters at Allegheny, I must have been fill with an abundance of public speaking skills. Most of my class would sit back and not as the speakers questions or answer our professor’s questions. I jumped at every opportunity to learn anything I could from our speakers because it was a once in a lifetime experience. After my morning session, my classmates and I would have lunch together and talk about the speakers. Numerous times, my peers would say they wish they would have asked about ..., yet they did not even raise their hand. Within a few days, I realized how much harder Allegheny’s workload is compared to the schools my peers attended. Allegheny’s professors also require their students to participate in class and to think critically. Throughout the semester, I could tell that my classmates had just as much passion about this topic as I did. By participating in class and asking in-depth questions, I show the class how to learn as much as possible from our professor and speakers. Our speakers wanted to tell us about their profession and spread their knowledge, the class just had to ask questions to show that they were interested. I am happy that I was able spread my excitement and curiosity for the topic by using skills that I learned at Allegheny.

I felt like I fulfilled the role of an American embassador many times when having conversations with my senora or my professors. We would be talking about culture or politics is Spain, then they would ask me how it was different in the United States, and at that point we would talk about the differences and similarites of the two countries. This would often spark other questions that they had about the United States. I realized that people outside our country have a certain image of what the United States is, based on the media and what the see on the news. Many times, these are generalizations, but many times its the truth. I think being able to answer those questions, and diferenciate between reality and stereotypes made me an american embasador. No, I didn't change all of Spain's perception of the United States, or reaffirm the truths that they here on the news, but being able to influence the few people I did, made me feel like a true American citizen and representative of my country. One example of this was when we were talking in my cultural realities class about the education system in Spain, and compared it to that of the US. Another example was at lunch one afternoon when a story came on the news about President Obama. Because he is a celebrity-like icon in Spain, and Europe, she was under the impression he had the same appearance here in the US, while this is not the case. I explained to her that he is not a celebrity icon to us, but and icon of hope, growth and change for the United States, and we are looking to him to do great things for us, but he is not a celebrity. Things like this were difficult at times, because while you can try to correct someone's incorrect perception, but the media makes things out to be what they want, and it's not always easy to make someone understand that the media makes generalizations, and does not always represent a culture correctly and fully. The language barrier at times was difficult too because it makes it more difficult to get your point across in the way you want. However, conversation is the first step in opening up these barriers and understanding one another's cultures all over the world.

I still have about a month left in Australia and though I did not come here expecting to be an American ambassador, I can think of some ways I have changed my new friends’ perceptions of American culture. The United States and Australia are very similar countries. We share similar histories, language, and governments, but the attitudes of the people are incredibly different. Australians see us as loud, elitist jerks. This stereotype is not helped by the exchange students who only spend time with others from America, or those who are, in fact, loud, elitist jerks (I have met a few). I am proud to say that my Australian clique has officially adopted me as one of their own. On occasion, they will bring up “the Americans” (other exchanges) in conversation, and quickly turn to me and say, “oh, but you don’t count.” I hope I have shown them that Americans, like Australians, are not all the same, and those of us who want to learn about and assimilate into another culture can do it quickly and easily. I also hope that through four months’ worth of conversation they have learned a little bit about America: its history, government, school systems, and so on. It is great to have so much knowledge about something by default, and we often find ourselves comparing and contrasting aspects of culture over meals. I believe that networking opportunities like those provided by studying abroad can result in understanding and prosperity for all parties involved.

The role of an ambassador is to show that where they come from must be good off of what they produced. It's the ambassador's role to show this to many people. So I'd say I'm about the average ambassador. I've made a good few friends here happily and done my best to be good to everyone as I always try to be, but I'm not much of a social maniac so probably don't present myself enough. So besides presenting myself well to friends and classmates best I can (without really trying admittedly) all I really got is fencing. Here I did pretty well though, helped lead the men's team to a undefeated victory in the league and cup down here, got a pretty metal for the win and apparantly I'm supposed to be getting an award from the school for my dedication and helping to bring about this never before done feat. But that was just kind of my fun and games as well, I'm a fencer, I fence. Actually all I've done since I've gotten here was be myself like that, any role as an ambassador has come second really.

I've been an ambassador for a lot of things now, my school club, my age group, my highschool, allegheny college, my sexuality, my physics department, my teachers, my opponents, even for the city of Lancaster. Eh, in the end it should all just be trying to be the best you can be, aka, trying to represent yourself best you can, everything else just kind of falls into place with that. Not at my best yet, or anywhere near, but that's the struggle that was my struggle as an ambassador in the end.

I am satisfied with my ambassadorial role here. Although I have only really been in Germany for about 6 weeks, I have definitely fulfilled my role. I have made an effort to cut my ties with Americans here and speak German with Germans. I am constantly asking people where they are from and what it's like there. A good example relates to a girl from Riga, Latvia. I asked where she was from and she replied "Lettland" - I didn't know this was the German name for Latvia, so she said that I ought to know if I'm interested in diplomacy, which we had discussed earlier. I then explained to her that I didn't know Lettland was Latvia, and to make my point clear and to make sure I was certain about where it was, I told her that it was between Estonia and Lithuania (whose capital cities I also mentioned). I wanted to let her know that I do want to learn about countries! I am interested in the world! I do know some things about it! And I think I've made that point clear to all of my acquaintances - I've lived in Germany for a year already, China for two months, and plan on interning in Serbia next Spring. And I write for an art center in Shanghai and have two passports and am working on getting my third. Although my German still needs work, the fact that I carry around a little log and write down every incomprehensible word lets people know that I really am trying to learn the language - and it's paid off! My German is getting so much better!

Yay for being an ambassador! I'm not trying that hard but I think I'm still doing just fine.

And integration? I was on the way to Stuttgart on my way to Belgrade and I got off at the wrong train station. While waiting, a girl joined me and I asked her if it was easy to get to Stuttgart from the station the train was heading towards. She said that was the case, and then said "Du gehst bestimmt feiern, oder?" (You're definitely going to some party, right?) I told her I was on the way to Budapest, and ultimately Belgrade, where I was visiting my good friend. We got to chatting and she eventually told me that I had a small accent and asked where I was from. I told her "California." She gawked at me with wide eyes. "But you're fluent!" And I said "Wenn du meinst!" ("If you say so!") I was flattered. On the train, I was talking to a Croatian construction worker who was born in Germany. I definitely noticed his accent - it was difficult for me to believe that he was born in Germany (no offense dude). And then other people have told me that they can tell right away if I'm American.

Mixed reviews tend to confuse, but I'm satisfied with my integration. I've managed to mingle, mingle, mingle with the Germans well enough.

Although we were instructed on our roles as ambassadors of both Allegheny
and America before we left for our respective courses, I myself never
thought about it much. However, looking back I am able to think of any
number of examples where I have positively represented Americans, as well
as Allegheny College. This mostly has to do with the fact that I like to
complain. Any difference I found between my previous lifestyle and my life
in England, I would find a way to spin it so that America and Allegheny
came out on top. For instance, even though Lancaster has a month long
spring break (seriously Allegheny, think about it) and gives its final
exams over a course of several weeks, I chose to interpret this to my
flatmates that American universities, particularly liberal arts colleges,
provide a more rigorous education, and are thus clearly better. In this
regard, I have also found myself constantly forced to be an American
ambassador because people in Europe find Americans rather fascinating.
Everywhere I went, whether it be Brussels, London, or Prague, I found
myself being questioned about American politics or my life at home. At
first, this was rather off-putting and I usually knew less about American
politics than the person asking me about them, thus making me a less than
admirable ambassador. However, as time went on I found myself more
interested in politics and world happenings due to the added focus and
interactions with global issues. So while at some times I played the role
of the ignorant American and perhaps rubbed people the wrong way (when the
French barista in a Paris Starbucks refused to give me a straw while I
mimed drinking in the air), I still believe that I represented America and
Allegheny positively. While talking with my American friends that are also
abroad, we have all found that we have a much greater appreciation for
what we left behind while we are gone. Before I left, I was never one to
boast about how great America is--whether this is because I had never been
anywhere to compare it with or because Obama was inaugurated while I was
gone, we will never know. Now, whether its talking about how much cooler
the President is than the Queen, or talking up the quality of American
education, I know that I have fulfilled my role as an ambassador and that
I have left people (at least a few) with a better impression of Americans
than they had before.